“Drew?”

He chuckled, although she couldn’t tell if there was any humor in it. “You see it now?”

She thought back to the first Google search she’d done on supernatural beings. The way she’d had to narrow down her search term with words that described the changes overtaking Sebastian. God, she’d been so focused on the overwhelming number of returns that she hadn’t once focused on the results that had repeated themselves. The smoke coming from his nose. The wings on his back. Now, the reptilian elongation of his face. It was so obvious and stupid in hindsight. Downright embarrassing that it had taken another person to even point it out to her. Some kind of researcher she’d make.

“My beautiful Sebastian,” she murmured. “How on God’s green earth are you a double creature of fantasy? One part vampire. One part dragon.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

They lost sight of him by the time they exited the car. Drew had parked beyond the gates of Sebastian’s home. She was out of the car, eyes toward the sky, within seconds of stopping.

“I’m going to call the others and get them over here,” Drew said as they walked toward the house. Like her, he scanned their surroundings, looking for a sign of their friend.

“No.” Alice’s heart tripped at the thought. The last thing he wanted or needed was condemnation from those people.

Drew’s face was fixed in a grim frown. “I admire your loyalty to him, but it’s done already. They know.”

Stomach churning, Alice nodded. “I know they do, but what if...he wouldn’t want that?”

“Either they come here to help or they stay away, not wanting to be associated with him. Regardless, it will let us know immediately where their loyalties lie, right?”

It made logical sense, but she had to look out for Sebastian’s best interests when he couldn’t. She had to. “I understand what you’re saying, but you saw them back there. None of them looked anxious to help him out when he needed it most. What happens if they get here and decide the best course of action is to put him down like some rabid dog, without trying to even help him first? Are you willing to take that chance?”

His lips thinned. “No, I guess not. But if things take a wrong turn, I’m calling. Deal?”

She considered arguing but didn’t see the point. It wouldn’t come to that, not if she had anything to do with it.

Alice nodded.

By unspoken agreement, they walked the perimeter of the house, choosing to save the inside for last. Alice couldn’t say why, but she was certain Sebastian remained outdoors, especially if his reaction to getting inside the car had been a predictor of his behavior. She slipped off heels designed for looking good, but not being practical, to make their search easier.

The soft glow of decorative lighting marked the path around his home, strategically placed floodlights helping them discern bushes and trees. The grass yielded beneath her steps without a sound, the dew settled upon its surface providing a muting cushion.

She realized as they searched how her life had somehow come full circle. It couldn’t have been more than a few years since the last time she’d searched for Richard like this after one of his fugues. Only in those times, she’d been in and out of crack houses and homeless shelters. Calls to the local ER left for last, not wanting to invite even more trouble to a troubling situation. The police wouldn’t and couldn’t be of help. She had to help herself.

“It’ll be difficult to agree to calling them, Drew. Not if I don’t believe they’re going to help.”

He stopped walking, and Alice felt the heat of his gaze on her back. She refused to stop to humor this conversation though. “Who are you to make decisions on his behalf?” he asked. Despite the words, his tone remained steady and unaccusing.

They were in the back, near the pool. She immediately shifted her attention to the place she’d found Sebastian before. Although the corner was dark, a shiver coursed through her as she thought she recognized his shape. She pulled her gaze away from him to address Drew, hoping he’d understand. “He means a lot to me,” she said softly, weighing the truth of the statement. Still not quite sure how much he’d come to mean.




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